Brilliant leaders think differently to not-so-brilliant leaders.
This is good news if you want your leadership to be more brilliant than it currently is—given that you’re 100% in control of the way you think :-).
But let’s be clear about this: In the short-term, controlling the way you think is simple, yes—but it’s not particularly easy to break old habits.
Brilliant Leaders Put Step One Before Step Two
Exemplary leaders know that effectively “leading” themselves is a crucial first step—one that comes before, step two, effectively leading others.
They know that to be great at influencing and inspiring others, they first need to be excellent at influencing and inspiring themselves.
They’re therefore very aware of what’s going on in their head—what they’re thinking.
They quickly notice when their thoughts aren’t serving them. And they quickly reconstruct what’s going on in their head.
Let’s look at these reconstructions…
Career Enhancing Thinking Habits
John Maxwell said, “Life is 10% about what happens to us, and 90% about how we react to it.”
Brilliant leaders focus on that 90% that they can control!
Brilliant leaders are aware that there are crucial mental shifts that they need to make so they’re able to effectively lead themselves.
Three of these crucial mental shifts are:
- They’re flexible and open to different approaches and new ideas.
When they notice they’re hanging on to “the way we do things around here” thinking
—they deliberately decide to become curious about what could be.
- They’re enthusiastic and optimistic.
When they notice they’re getting sucked into problems
—they purposefully focus on solutions and how things can be improved.
- Their self-respect and respect for others is high.
As soon as they notice they’re mentally beating themselves or someone else up
—they immediately take a constructive stance. They consciously recall what they can feel confident about and/or the positive attributes of the other person.
Your Call to Action
“Life isn’t about finding yourself. Life is about creating yourself.” —George Bernard Shaw
Which of your thinking habits can you refine so that you create more brilliant leader qualities?
Do you sometimes hang on to “the way we do things around here” thinking? How often do you get sucked into problems when you could have more quickly focused on solutions? When did you last mentally beat yourself or someone else up?
Here’s your opportunity to move a step closer to being brilliant :-).
“My coaching program has given me a vastly improved ability to effectively and
efficiently manage issues and conflict. Situations that I previously viewed as difficult,
and therefore sometimes procrastinated about, now seem a good deal more approachable.”
—Managing Director, Investment Bank
About The Author:
Carolyn Stevens has worked with leaders for more than 25-years—hundreds of them.
She’s supported leader after leader to flourish and become confident, courageous and impressively influential (including those who previously struggled to confront the difficult, let alone persuasively deal with the it).
Plus, as a personal career strategist, she specialises in helping ambitious female senior executives create a reputation as an indispensable world-class leader.
Carolyn is authentic and results-oriented. She’ll draw on an eclectic array of approaches, tools and techniques to suit your situation.
She’s never too busy to talk to you if you’re in a hurry to boost your success. Same goes for leaders you refer.
Just email if you’d like to arrange a time to chat: carolyn@leadingperformance.com.au
